Metal Bass - Palm Muting - Perfect 5th

Playing metal bass, whether scales, arpeggios, or chords with metronome precision rhythm and timing, is an art that takes daily bass practice and dedication to the metal bass style. Often times, metal bass chords for example, may be some form of a bass power chord, whether b5, +5,(diminished or augmented) or straight power perfect 5th. However your scales and arpeggios will be used for most of your bass soloing and rhythm backing.

A common technique used when playing metal bass is palm muting, which can be added on and off to create a different tone while playing the same chord or note, at the same speed, in the same song. The type of distortion and the quality of your bass technique will create a heavy, percussive rhythm sound which must be able to be maintained throughout the length of a standard song.

You will find that as you practice various metal bass leads and rhythms, that whatever picking method you are using at the moment, whether with consistent down strokes or alternating up and down pick strokes, you will have to have your hand and forearm relaxed because if you get too tense, your picking hand will start to lock up on you and you will not be able to maintain your speed or accuracy.